The Byron Shire Echo – Issue 33.44 – April 10, 2019

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ALL THE NEWS THE ABC WON’T PRINT SINCE 1986 The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 33 #44 • Wednesday, April 10, 2019 • www.echo.net.au

It was standing room only on Monday in the Byron Theatre as over 200 community stakeholders gathered to listen to the final public submissions on Villa World’s component of the West Byron development application (DA) and hear the Northern Regional Planning Panel’s (NRPP) decision. To the delight and relief of all who attended – and another standing ovation – the panel refused Villa World’s DA, knocking over the second DA for the sensitive wetlands and adjoining estuary. The other DA, owned by a consortium of locals, was refused in February. Though many aspects of the opposition were covered during the afternoon, including the Indigenous heritage of the site, wildlife, aesthetics, and social suitability, water flow on the lands and flooding were among the major concerns. The five-member panel comprised John Griffin, Stephen How, Katie Milne, and Vanessa Ekins and was chaired by former Nationals MP Garry West.

Time for action on Adani

Plans to change the zoning/use of the Byron Bay Memorial Recreation Grounds on Tennyson Street are again being met with anger from residents and users. It’s now up to version six, and like previous drafts, there is no mention of why the previous plans were rejected or what consultation occurred with user groups. The draft plan is now on public exhibition, with submissions closing April 23 at 4pm.

Public hearing April 24

The Stop Adani Convoy, led by Bob Brown, is charging up the coast to confront the proposed Adani mine in central QLD. A massive rally is planned April 21 (Easter Sunday) from 2 till 3pm at the Mullumbimby Showgrounds to meet them. Local activists will then join the convoy for the journey. The convoy is led by electric cars, says co-organiser Ella Rose Goninan, and ‘involves a massive contingent of vehicles with flags, posters, and joyous non-violent protest cries’. See persons of interest profile Ian Cohen on page 13. Photo Jeff ‘Hybrid-Powered Since 1986’ Dawson

Re-elected MP calls for public forum over bypass Hans Lovejoy Policy divisions between the re-elected Greens Ballina MP and Greens councillors have again been highlighted with re-elected Tamara Smith MP calling for a public forum to invite expert speakers to explore what other options are available instead of the current Byron Butler Street bypass project. The bypass, mainly funded by the state government, would widen the street and continue south through wetlands and emerge between Mitre

Who has got the best policy on climate and electric vehicles? ▶ p9

Byron rec grounds plans sparks complaints – again

10 and Byron Music. It is expected to alleviate traffic by 20 per cent and has seen fierce opposition from affected residents. Market stallholders have also been affected, and are yet to be offered a satisfactory temporary market location. Smith was the only NSW candidate who ran on a platform to pause the bypass and proposed transport hub. Yet acting Greens mayor Michael Lyon supports the bypass, despite questionable process from Council staff that led to the decision. Two

former Greens councillors also support MP Smith’s call for a pause. Cr Lyon told The Echo he will ‘seek guidance’ but ‘argue against taking up Tamara’s offer’ of a public forum at the Greens’ monthly meeting Tuesday (last night). ‘I have reviewed the decision and the level of consultation and am satisfied with both. I believe that this is a good project for Byron and having reviewed all of the information available, I am more firmly convinced that the right decision has been made’.

Byron Shire Council Notices ▶ p12

Persons of interest: Ian Cohen ▶ p13

Cr Lyon added, ‘I would be happy to write an article for a subsequent edition that explains this in detail’.

At odds with policy Yet much of the bypass appears at odds with Greens policy, which includes transparency and safeguarding ecological credentials. Ms Smith said, ‘During the last four years, I regularly heard community concerns regarding the Byron Bay bypass and more recently issues ▶ Continued on page 2

Fight for the Bight ▶ p21

As required when altering the categorisation of any Councilmanaged land, Council staff will be holding a public hearing on April 24 from 3pm at the Cavanbah Centre on Ewingsdale Road. On page 23, the draft plan of management ‘expressly authorises’ development on the Byron Bay Memorial Recreation Ground including: ‘commercial use (for example but not limited to markets, filming, events, cinema, outdoor/indoor entertainment, gymnasium, primitive camping, training camps etc).’ Such authorisation would allow the development ‘Anywhere on the… grounds 24/7, under or above ground and/or of a size, scale, and intensity that is permitted by planning instruments or other laws applying at the time.’ No estimates of costs for the authorised developments are including in the document. A resident contacted The Echo and said, ‘Council sees the rec ground as a commodity to sell or develop for other than sporting ▶ Continued on page 2

The Bangalow perspective ▶ p25

School holidays fun ▶ p26 Electrical licence 255292C

Second West Byron DA rejected by panel

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